Privacy Policy
Village of Brooks (“VOB,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share personal information through our website, forms, fundraising activities, and communications.
VOB is an independent parent and community support organization serving the Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy community. Our website is separate from the official websites of Brooks and Chicago Public Schools (“CPS”).
1. Information we Collect
Depending on how you interact with VOB, we may collect:
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Contact information: Your name, email address, telephone number, and mailing address.
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Membership and volunteer information: Your connection to Brooks, interests, availability, skills, committee preferences, and volunteer approval status.
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Event information: Registration details, attendance information, and information needed to coordinate your participation.
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Donation information: Donation amounts, dates, campaign designations, and transaction records.
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Funding request information: Requester details, program descriptions, budgets, supporting documents, student participation estimates, and project outcomes.
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Optional family information: Student name or grade when provided by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult for a relevant activity.
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Communications and submissions: Messages, photographs, testimonials, stories, and other materials you provide.
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Website usage information: IP address, browser and device information, pages visited, and interactions collected through website hosting, cookies, or similar technologies.
Please do not submit Social Security numbers, student identification numbers, medical records, full payment-card details, or other sensitive information through general website forms. Funding requests should use aggregate student information whenever possible.
2. How we use Information
We use personal information to:
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Respond to questions and requests.
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Manage VOB membership, committees, and volunteer opportunities.
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Coordinate events and community activities.
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Process and acknowledge donations.
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Review funding requests and administer approved projects.
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Maintain financial and organizational records.
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Send updates consistent with your communication preferences.
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Recognize supporters when authorized.
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Improve website functionality and security.
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Meet applicable legal and recordkeeping requirements.
We do not sell or rent personal information. We do not use student information for targeted advertising.
3. How we share information
We may share relevant information with:
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Authorized VOB officers, committee members, and volunteers who need access to perform their responsibilities.
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Service providers supporting website hosting, forms, payment processing, communications, and organizational records.
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School personnel or activity partners when necessary to coordinate an activity, verify a funding request or endorsement, or fulfill a service you requested.
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Public authorities or other parties when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect safety, investigate misuse, or defend legal rights.
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Other parties with your permission.
We do not routinely provide the school, sponsors, or other organizations with our complete membership or donor lists.
4. Website Hosting, Payments, and External Services
Our website uses Wix. We may use Google Workspace and other service providers to manage forms, communications, organizational records, and transactions.
When online payments are available, the payment provider will be identified during checkout. Payment providers process payment information under their own terms and privacy policies. VOB does not request or retain full payment-card numbers through general website forms.
Provider privacy policies include:
When you follow a link to DonorsChoose, CPS, a school website, or another external service, that organization’s privacy practices apply. Donations made directly to an external organization are administered by that organization.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Wix and embedded services may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, protect transactions, and measure website usage.
Where a cookie preference tool is available, you may use it to manage nonessential cookies. You may also adjust your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Additional analytics or advertising tools: None.
6. Communications and Your Choices
You may unsubscribe from promotional emails using the unsubscribe link or contact us to update your preferences.
Unsubscribing does not prevent us from sending necessary donation receipts, responses to your inquiries, or notices about an event or funding request you initiated.
If VOB offers promotional text messages, we will request separate consent and provide applicable messaging and opt-out information.
7. Student and Children's Information
Our website and submission forms are intended primarily for adults. Children under 13 should not submit personal information directly. A parent or guardian should complete forms on their behalf.
We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our general website forms. If you believe a child has submitted information without appropriate authorization, contact us so we can investigate and remove it as appropriate.
We request only the student information reasonably needed for an activity. Our website is not a school student-records portal.
8. Photographs, Stories, and Public Recognition
We obtain appropriate permission before publishing identifiable student photographs, names, or stories. Membership, event participation, or a donation alone does not constitute permission to use a student’s image.
Where a donation or event platform offers public recognition, review its visibility settings before submitting information.
To request a correction or removal of VOB-published content involving you or your child, contact us. We cannot control copies previously downloaded or shared by others.
9. Information Retention and Security
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose collected, organizational administration, financial accountability, and applicable legal requirements.
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards and restrict access according to assigned responsibilities. No online service or storage method can guarantee complete security.
Our service providers may process or store information in the United States and other countries.
10. Privacy Requests
You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we maintain, or to change your communication preferences.
We may verify your identity before responding. Certain information may need to be retained for legal, financial, or operational reasons. Additional rights may apply depending on your location and applicable law.
11. Updates to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as our activities, services, or practices change. We will post the revised policy and effective date on this page and provide additional notice when required.
12. Contact us
For privacy questions, communication preferences, or requests concerning your information, contact:
Village of Brooks
Email: brookspcvp@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 250 E. 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60628